205 replies to this topic

[ebowtheloser]

MyNameIsDean, on 19 October 2011 - 02:11 PM, said:

I think the criticism stems from the highest standards REM have set over the years. For example this new song, if done by most bands would be a pleasant surprise, but REM are not most bands and falls into average amongst their catalogue.

That said I'm playing it now and its better than most music made today.

I'm still getting to grips with the fact that after these next two songs I've got no more REM to look forward to.

After that I'll celebrate them.

That sounds like a good plan!

[Driver Nate]

ebowtheloser, on 19 October 2011 - 02:08 PM, said:

Of course. I'm a first amendment absolutist. Under no circumstance would I suggest someone does not have the right to express their feelings. I'm merely saying that I believe a change in tone is called for.

Let me put it this way... Here's a thought expressed two different ways....

One: This message board has provided a great service for fans of this band, and while I have enjoyed much of the earlier discussions, I don't think the current tone is reasonable, justifiable or dignified.

or...

Two: This message board used to be good, but now it blows. R.E.M.'s only real problem is that their fans are loudmouthed, entitled, unhinged douchebags. It may be one's right to call R.E.M. cowards for not touring one last time, but it would make one appear to be a fucking asshole to actually publish an idiotic statement like that on the internet. Not every fart that passes through one's brain masquerading as a thought needs to be broadcast to the universe.

All I'm humbly suggesting is that we have a little more of the former and a little less of the latter

I've been a member of this board since the late 90s. There was never some magical period when everything was rainbows and unicorns, people have always expressed their opinions from both extremes. Now that R.E.M. have decided to call it quits, I don't think people should alter their opinions just because of it.

[MyNameIsDean]

I like reading others opinions on REM. No matter how mad.

Like I've read from people on here who actually like Beachball.

Yes, Beachball.

[ebowtheloser]

MyNameIsDean, on 19 October 2011 - 02:47 PM, said:

I like reading others opinions on REM. No matter how mad.

Like I've read from people on here who actually like Beachball.

Yes, Beachball.

Ha!

I hear what you guys are saying... and i totally enjoy a good debate... but honestly the attitude of... all I can call it is entitlement i guess... that has become so prevalent on here has really gotten under my skin lately. You know this: "How DARE they offend my heightened musical senses!" attitude is just so off-putting to me. Yes, of course I can leave and not read it anymore, but I can also express my opinion that it can be a healthier discussion if people don't rush to find the most extreme way of making the point of "this song is not to my taste." Because really, that's all this is: A decade plus of people saying "this is/is not to my taste."

The Beachball comment you just made is kind of more what I hope for, I guess. You obviously expressed your distaste for Beachball, but you did it in a way that was funny and lighthearted. And didn't make it seem like you were mortally wounded by the mere EXISTENCE of the song.

I realize that I am sounding like a giant buzzkill, so I will probably stick to "short and funny" posts from now on....

Either that or just go out and form a thrash band called "Rainbows and Unicorns."

[MyNameIsDean]

If it's any consolation I do know where you're coming from. All I hope for is that whatever the opinion or post it's been backed by intelligence. If not, I move on.

[Joni Smeke]

Come on, people, everyone has songs they love and songs they hate. Personally I can't see how someone would love "The Wrong Child", but we're all different with different tastes... No use arguing over that.

Beachball doesn't hurt me and doesn't bring tears to my eyes either. It's one more song. As for WAGBWWB, I heard it a couple of times and feel nothing towards it - which is the same thing I felt towards so many R.E.M. songs till the moment that they hit me and the same thought once again crossed my mind "This song is brilliant, how come I never realized that?" Happened 3 weeks ago with Shaking Through.

The only thing I will loathe forever is the At My Most Beautiful video. God, it oozes so much cheesiness I need to collect it from the floor. It almost makes me hate the song.

[elkokolores]

ebowtheloser, on 19 October 2011 - 03:03 PM, said:

but I can also express my opinion that it can be a healthier discussion if people don't rush to find the most extreme way of making the point of "this song is not to my taste." Because really, that's all this is: A decade plus of people saying "this is/is not to my taste.

Not every opinion about art including music is build on taste.

Like Max Ernst said "Art has nothing to do with taste, art is not there to be "tasted"

[sycorax82]

The fact is, it's just a leftover that wouldn't have fit onto CiN. Who knows how long it's been sitting around. Better for them to put it out on this set than for us never to hear it, or indeed the other 2 tracks.

[sycorax82]

Joni Smeke, on 19 October 2011 - 03:30 PM, said:

Come on, people, everyone has songs they love and songs they hate. Personally I can't see how someone would love "The Wrong Child",

TWC is one of my favourites!! One of the most perfect things they ever committed to tape.

[ebowtheloser]

Ma

elkokolores, on 19 October 2011 - 03:35 PM, said:

Not every opinion about art including music is build on taste.

Like Max Ernst said "Art has nothing to do with taste, art is not there to be "tasted"

Max Ernst? Seriously?!!! MAX ERNST!!!!! That two bit hack has no business being mentioned in the same breath as the word ART! He should have quit years before he started wasting our time with that asinine "frottage" bullshit! What an asshole!

Totally kidding! Couldn't help myself.

[elkokolores]

ebowtheloser, on 19 October 2011 - 03:44 PM, said:

Ma
Max Ernst? Seriously?!!! MAX ERNST!!!!! That two bit hack has no business being mentioned in the same breath as the word ART! He should have quit years before he started wasting our time with that asinine "frottage" bullshit! What an asshole!

Totally kidding! Couldn't help myself.

You made me smile a second time.

[ebowtheloser]

elkokolores, on 19 October 2011 - 03:58 PM, said:

You made me smile a second time.

Ha! Cool... It's nice to feel like a productive member of society.

[Kohoutek]

This is not a good song.  Too bad.

[robbbin]

Its a great song, Stipe looking back to his teens, looking forward looking back, the music of the era, now its time to go back to then and take another path.

He is saying all good things must come to an end and now its time to try something else. Id expect him to become a father before he dies.

[Remixomatosys]

sycorax82, on 19 October 2011 - 03:37 PM, said:

The fact is, it's just a leftover that wouldn't have fit onto CiN.

No, it is not.

This is a quote from Mike Mills:

"And we were excited to find three really good songs to put out as a farewell," he adds. Two of the new tracks, "Hallelujah" and "A Month of Saturdays," came from demos for R.E.M.'s last studio album, Collapse Into Now, released in March. The third song, a Sixties-flavored treat with sunshine-pop brass, is called, aptly, "We All Go Back to Where We Belong."

So, even "Hallelujah" and "A Month of Saturdays" are NOT leftovers; they were demoed in 2010, then completed in 2011 for this compilation.
WAGBTWWB appears to be totally new (also, check out the wikipedia page about part lies, which states the same).
And, in my humble opinion, it is a totally gorgeous and uplifting song; once again, r.e.m. managed to create something different from everything they've done before.
That is one of their distinguishing features, one of the reason why so many people love them; another one, is that they absolutely don't give a damn about fans' continuous bitching.
Anyway, wonderful song

[fanfan]

Thanks for that wikipedia link.

"The band finished this song as well as the demos "A Month of Saturdays" and "Hallelujah" with producer Jacknife Lee initially with the intention of creating an album independently, after having fulfilled their contractual obligations to Warner Bros. Records,^[3] but decided to disband instead."

Is this really true? Oh no!

[fanfan]

Remixomatosys, on 19 October 2011 - 11:27 PM, said:

WAGBTWWB appears to be totally new (also, check out the wikipedia page about part lies, which states the same).

Think of this little video bit that the band released around the Collapse into Now sessions, with Michael singing "what you are offering". The band must have written or at least started WAGBTWWB during work on CIN.

[Remixomatosys]

fanfan, on 20 October 2011 - 12:46 AM, said:

Think of this little video bit that the band released around the Collapse into Now sessions, with Michael singing "what you are offering". The band must have written or at least started WAGBTWWB during work on CIN.

The song you're referring to is "Kick the traces". Here's the lyrics:
http://werehereonthe...ful-writer.html
So the answer is no.
Check out ninetynights, night 16:
http://werehereonthe...s-night-16.html

So wagbtwwb is the last song written by rem, after CIN.
Now you all should find another reason for bashing it.

[Driver Nate]

Remixomatosys, on 19 October 2011 - 11:27 PM, said:

No, it is not.

This is a quote from Mike Mills:

"And we were excited to find three really good songs to put out as a farewell," he adds. Two of the new tracks, "Hallelujah" and "A Month of Saturdays," came from demos for R.E.M.'s last studio album, Collapse Into Now, released in March. The third song, a Sixties-flavored treat with sunshine-pop brass, is called, aptly, "We All Go Back to Where We Belong."

So, even "Hallelujah" and "A Month of Saturdays" are NOT leftovers; they were demoed in 2010, then completed in 2011 for this compilation.
WAGBTWWB appears to be totally new (also, check out the wikipedia page about part lies, which states the same).
And, in my humble opinion, it is a totally gorgeous and uplifting song; once again, r.e.m. managed to create something different from everything they've done before.
That is one of their distinguishing features, one of the reason why so many people love them; another one, is that they absolutely don't give a damn about fans' continuous bitching.
Anyway, wonderful song

If "Hallelujah" and "A Month of Saturdays" were demoed for Collapse Into Now, it indeed sounds like they were "leftovers", not songs that were written specifically for inclusion on the new compilation. As for "We All Go Back To Where We Belong", I guess the truth behind the origin of this song will come out eventually but if the brass parts were contributed by Bonerama, it would make sense that it too was another song worked up during the sessions for Collapse Into Now. The bit from Wiki about them being the start of a new album seems to have come from the misinformation originally reported as fact by the likes of Rolling Stone.

[fanfan]

Remixomatosys, on 20 October 2011 - 01:13 AM, said:

So wagbtwwb is the last song written by rem, after CIN.

It might be like that but so far, I don't think we have any evidence for that.

I agree with Driver Nate that the brass section sounds like the one on Collapse into now, which would make me think that this is Bonerama as well. So it may have been recorded during the CIN studio time.